Chapter 7- David's Game
Ginny stared at Harry in shock.
"Harry what are you doing? You can't really be trusting him!"
Harry turned to look at her.
"I have to Ginny. At least this way there's some chance that I can save you."
David smirked.
"How sweet. Now Potter, go step behind that line."
A blood red line had been drawn several feet behind Harry and he obeyed, moving behind it.
"Now, let me explain a few things. Only one of these girls will walk out of here today, and you're going to choose who it is."
Harry's mind automatically flicked to Ginny.
"If you choose your wife, I'll let you both walk free and maybe, just maybe I won't ever bother you again… maybe. Of course… if you choose Ginny… than you'll be leaving Beth with me… and Beth can make me stronger that Voldemort ever was. How you ask? A Ritual. It must be performed tonight, and if it's completed, no one will be able to touch me… except Beth of course."
He nodded to her and she smiled nervously.
"Now, you can always choose Beth and I'll give you back your wand and let you go. It would be no trouble to kill me then… but before I'd give you back your wand, I'd have to kill poor Ginny, leaving you with no wife, no family and ultimately nothing… but the Wizarding World would be safe."
Harry looked from David to Ginny and Beth and back.
"You're sick."
David just laughed.
"You're stalling Potter! Must I give you some persuasion?"
David moved towards Ginny, holding the knife out to her. Harry tried to move forward instantly, but found that he couldn't go past the red line. He held it up to her throat and Ginny gulped instinctively, feeling the flat side of the blade pressing against her skin.
He moved the knife and she found that she could breath easily again, until he held it up to her arm, lightly tracing the tip over her skin. She shivered, realizing that he wasn't pressing hard enough to break skin… for a moment at least. He pressed harder and she cried out as the blade pierced her flesh, a thin line of blood trailing from the wound as he continued dragging it down her skin.
Her instinct would have been to clutch it, but she was still bound to the stone and the more she struggled the more it hurt. He pulled the knife away; turning to a furious and horror struck Harry.
"Now, you can save Beth and prevent me from coming to power… or you can save your wife and unborn child and heal the wound on her arm. Time is ticking Harry… it's a pretty deep gash, and you wouldn't want her to bleed to death before your very eyes now would you?"
Harry looked to Ginny, who was biting her lip as the tears came, then to David, the man who could very well become the next Dark Lord.
"What happens if I don't choose?"
David looked at him.
"If you don't choose? If you don't choose than Ginny dies, your child dies, and I become more powerful than you could ever imagine."
Harry looked from Ginny to David once more.
"I…"
Ginny looked at him.
"Harry! Harry he's counting on… on you choosing me… don't… don't do it!"
She was shouting through her tears and Harry shook his head, trying to keep his eyes from the blood on her arm.
"Come now Potter. Hurry up and choose."
Harry knew he couldn't do it. He just couldn't. There was no way he could make this choice…
"Avada Kedavra!"
Ginny screamed and Beth's eyes widened as a man fell to the ground, then all at once tears fell from a young woman's eyes.
"No!"
Harry stared at David's body on the ground. Who had done it? Who had killed him? He glanced around. One of the men who worked for David, the one who had taken Ginny in the first place had his wand out and was pointing it in David's direction, and then he let it drop.
"You guys can go now."
He nodded to Harry.
"Your wife will need to visit St. Mungos, and the girl needs an antidote for a very powerful love potion."
Harry stared at the man in shock, the sounds of chains rattling and a woman falling to the floor brought him back though and he rushed over to Ginny, watching as she cradled her arm.
"Come on Gin. Let's go. It's over."
He looked to the other man, the one who had saved them all.
"Thank you…"
The man just nodded.
"It's no problem. Ultimate power is one thing, but stabbing a pregnant woman… it's just plain sick. I'm Matthew by the way."
Harry nodded, helping Ginny up. He looked to Beth, still sobbing on the floor.
"A love potion?"
Matthew nodded.
"He slipped it to her after he stunned her once more."
Harry looked at Ginny, then to Bethany, and then to Matthew.
"You realize I'm going to have to alert the Auror office of this, right?"
Matthew nodded.
"Yeah. I'll keep everyone here, maybe I won't get as bad of a sentence because I helped you."
Harry nodded, leaving Ginny side and walking over to Bethany.
"I'll put in a good word."
He helped Bethany up as well, then looked to Ginny.
"Come on Gin, we should get out of here, and get your arm looked at."
Ginny nodded. She was in such a state of shock that she couldn't think of anything to say.
So with one last thank you in Matthew's direction, Harry led the girls out of the house.